Electronic Acknowledgement of Receipt of Inventory

ABSTRACT

A method for tracking status of an inventory shipment sent to a recipient includes monitoring whether the recipient has transmitted an electronic acknowledgment of the status of the shipment; and automatically transmitting a message to the recipient requesting acknowledgment of receipt of inventory if the electronic acknowledgment is not transmitted by the recipient within a first predetermined amount of time.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the distribution of and tracking ofinventory used for providing financial services.

BACKGROUND ART

A financial services firm may have a host computer in communication witha plurality of terminals that are distributed over a large area (e.g.,nationwide). Such terminals are typically operated by agents so as toprovide financial services to customers, such as money transfertransactions and preparation of negotiable instruments. The financialservices firm may also send preprinted financial documents to the agentsfor use in preparing negotiable instruments requested by customers.

A problem associated with sending preprinted financial documents to anagent is that the financial services firm may not know whether the agenthas received the documents. The financial documents could become lost,they could get into the wrong hands, or the agent could simply forget toinform the financial services firm that a particular shipment has beenreceived. Obviously, many collateral problems may result from notknowing the whereabouts of a particular financial document shipment. Ifthe shipment ends up in the wrong hands, for example, fraudulent moneyorders may be created, which could result in large financial losses forthe financial services firm.

One solution for addressing the above-identified problem involvesrequesting the agent to sign and remit a confirmation receipt, such as apost-card, for the financial document shipment. While this solution iseffective in most cases, it does not provide the financial services firmsufficient control over the agents to ensure timely remittance of anacknowledgment of receipt of inventory. Consequently, many shipments aresent to agents without confirmation that the shipments were actuallyreceived.

Therefore, there exists a need for a new and improved method and systemfor tracking status of inventory shipments, and for acknowledgingreceipt of such shipments at remote agent locations.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art byproviding a method and system for electronically communicating status ofan inventory shipment sent by a sender to a recipient. The presentinvention further provides the sender the capability of encouraging therecipient to acknowledge receipt of the inventory.

Under the invention, a method for tracking status of an inventoryshipment sent to a recipient includes monitoring whether the recipienthas transmitted an electronic acknowledgment of the status of theshipment; and automatically transmitting a message to the recipientrequesting acknowledgment of receipt of inventory if the electronicacknowledgment is not transmitted by the recipient within a firstpredetermined amount of time.

The monitoring step may include monitoring whether the recipient hastransmitted, via a terminal, the electronic acknowledgment to a hostcomputer in communication with the terminal. The method may also includeinhibiting operation of the terminal if the recipient does not print themessage within a second, predetermined amount of time. Furthermore, themethod may include restoring operation of the terminal after therecipient prints the message.

Alternatively or supplementally, the method may include inhibitingoperation of the terminal if the recipient does not respond to themessage within a second, predetermined amount of time. In addition, themethod may include restoring operation of the terminal after therecipient responds to the message.

Because the method may include inhibiting operation of a terminaldisposed at the recipient's location, the method provides a sender ofthe inventory shipment the ability to encourage the recipient toacknowledge receipt of the inventory shipment.

Further under the invention, a method for tracking an inventory shipmentsent to a recipient includes providing the recipient with a means toelectronically communicate a status of the inventory shipment to asender of the inventory shipment. Preferably, the providing stepincludes providing the recipient with a terminal for electronicallycommunicating the status of the inventory shipment. Furthermore, themethod may include inhibiting operation of the terminal if the recipientdoes not communicate the status of the inventory shipment within apredetermined amount of time.

A system for tracking status of an inventory shipment sent to arecipient is also provided. The system includes a host computer forreceiving an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of inventory from therecipient. The host computer is operable to automatically transmit amessage to the recipient requesting acknowledgment of receipt ofinventory if the electronic acknowledgment is not received within afirst predetermined amount of time.

The system may also include a terminal in communication with the hostcomputer, wherein the terminal is operable to transmit the electronicacknowledgment to the host computer and to receive the message from thehost computer.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention are readily apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system according to the presentinvention for sending an inventory shipment to an agent location, andfor confirming receipt of the inventory shipment; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating operation of a method according tothe invention for tracking status of an inventory shipment sent to theagent location.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a system 10 is shown for transportinginventory from a sender, such as financial services firm 12, to arecipient, such as an agent location 16. The financial services firm 12is in communication with a distribution center 14 and the agent location16 via one or more communication networks, such as communication network18. Communication network 18 may be any suitable network such as a localarea network, a wide area network, a dial-up network, the Internet, awireless network or any combination thereof. Technologies such as highspeed fiber optics, coaxial cable and/or twisted copper pair cabling maybe used to create the communication network 18.

The financial services firm 12 has a host computer 20 for managinginventory. Such inventory may include, for example, supplies, printerribbons, signage, transaction forms, and/or negotiable instrument formsthat are processed by an agent at agent location 16 to create negotiableinstruments, such as money orders, gift certificates or vendor payments.Further, host computer 20 is configured to send data over communicationnetwork 18 to distribution center 14 so as to request certain tasks ofthe distribution center 14. For example, host computer 20 may send arequest to distribution center 14 to send an inventory shipment to agentlocation 16, as explained below in greater detail.

Typically, the distribution center 14 is a warehouse facility forhandling and storing inventory used in the financial services business.The distribution center 14 may be owned and/or operated by the financialservices firm 12, or it may be an independent entity. Generally, thedistribution center 14 may engage a courier service 24, such as FederalExpress® or United Parcel Service®, to transport inventory to the agentlocation 16.

Agent location 16 includes a terminal 22, which may be provided and/orowned by the financial services firm 12, and is configured tocommunicate with host computer 20 via communication network 18.Furthermore, terminal 22 is preferably, but not necessarily, configuredto process sale transactions and/or to print negotiable instruments. Inone embodiment of the invention, terminal 22 is a point of saleterminal, such as an FDX-400® device available from First DataCorporation of Englewood, Colo. Alternatively, terminal 22 may be anysuitable device that is configured to communicate with the host computer20, such as a personal digital assistant device (PDA), personal computer(PC), or automated teller machine (ATM). The terminal 22 may alsoinclude a web browser and/or other Internet software/hardware, so as tocommunicate with host computer 20 via the Internet.

Terminal 22 is configured to receive input from the agent through akeypad 23. Alternatively or supplementally, the terminal 22 may includeany suitable device for receiving input, such as a bar code scanner,MICR scanner, OCR scanner, voice recognition or response unit, or thirdparty interface. Additionally, terminal 22 has a display screen fordisplaying information generated by or input into the terminal 22,and/or generated by the host computer 20. Preferably, terminal 22 alsoincludes a printer (not shown) for printing messages, financialdocuments such as negotiable instruments, and the like.

As explained above, host computer 20 and terminal 22 are configured tocommunicate with each other via communication network 18. For example,one message that may be sent to the host computer 20 from terminal 22 isan acknowledgment of receipt of a shipment of inventory. An example of amessage that may be sent from host computer 20 to terminal 22 is aninstruction to insert paper into the printer in order to print a messagefrom the host computer 20. This allows a long message to be communicatedto the agent that would be impractical to display on the display screenof terminal 22. The host computer 20 may also be operative to monitorthe terminal 22 to determine whether or not messages sent by the hostcomputer 20 have been printed by the terminal 22.

Referring now to FIG. 2, operation of a method for tracking status ofinventory shipped by financial services firm 12 to agent location 16 isillustrated, in accordance with the present invention. First, thefinancial services firm 12 initiates an inventory shipment to agentlocation 16. For example, host computer 20 may be used to send aninventory file to the distribution center 14 via communication network18, as indicated at block 30. The inventory file contains an itemizedlist of all of the items or inventory the financial service firm 12desires to be shipped to the agent location 16. Such items may include,for example, negotiable instrument forms, supplies, printer ribbons,signage, transaction forms, etc. The inventory file may also containother information such as shipment number and a desired shipment date.Alternatively, the shipment may be initiated in any suitable manner.

As further indicated at block 30, the host computer 20 may also send acopy of the inventory file to a receipt confirmation database. Thereceipt confirmation database may be part of the host computer 20, or itmay be a separate database that is accessible through the host computer20.

The distribution center 14 receives the inventory file from the hostcomputer 20, and ships the inventory via courier 24, as represented byblock 32. The financial services firm 12 may also send a message ornotice to the terminal 22, via the host computer 20, indicating that theshipment has been sent. At block 34, an agent at agent location 16accepts the shipment from the courier 24.

At block 36, the host computer 20 reviews the receipt confirmationdatabase to determine whether the agent has acknowledged receipt of theinventory via terminal 22. The agent may acknowledge receipt of theinventory by using terminal 22 to send an electronic acknowledgment ofreceipt of inventory (EARI) to the receipt confirmation database, asindicated by blocks 38, 40 and 42. The EARI is a message that preferablycontains identifying information corresponding to the shipment, such asshipment number, shipment date and/or a list of inventory received.

Next, the receipt confirmation database reconciles or otherwise comparesthe EARI with the inventory file sent by host computer 20, as indicatedat block 42. If the EARI corresponds with the inventory file sent byhost computer 20, the shipment is marked received and is stored in aninventory reconciled and archived database, as represented by block 44.The inventory reconciled and archived database may be part of the hostcomputer 20, or it may be a separate database that is accessible throughthe host computer 20.

However, if the agent does not acknowledge receipt of the shipment usingterminal 22, the host computer 20 automatically sends a request foracknowledgment of receipt of inventory notification or message to theterminal 22 after a predetermined, configurable amount of time, such asseven days from shipment of the inventory, as represented by block 46.If the message is not printed by terminal 22 within a predeterminedamount of time, such as two days after the terminal 22 has received themessage, then the host computer 20 may inhibit operation of the terminal22 or completely disable the terminal 22, until the message is printed,as represented by blocks 48 and 50. For example, the host computer 20may send a disable code or command to the terminal 22, which causes theterminal 22 to become partially or fully disabled. As a result, theterminal 22 may be rendered inaccessible to the agent for transactingbusiness or otherwise performing tasks, such as processing salestransactions, processing voids, printing documents, etc. Preferably,however, the terminal 22 retains the ability to print the message. Ifthe terminal 22 later prints the message, then the host computer 20 mayautomatically restore full operation of the terminal 22, such as bysending a suitable code or command to the terminal 22.

Alternatively or supplementally, the terminal 22 may be programmed orotherwise configured to automatically inhibit operation of itself, orcompletely disable itself, if the terminal 22 is not directed orotherwise instructed by the recipient to print the message within apredetermined amount of time, such as two days after the terminal 22 hasreceived the message. For example, the terminal 22 may include aninternal tracking system that tracks message print status upon receiptof the message. If the message is not printed by the terminal 22 withinthe predetermined amount of time, the tracking system may cause theterminal 22 to become partially or fully disabled. Again, however, theterminal 22 preferably retains the ability to print the message. If theterminal 22 is then instructed to print the message, the tracking systemmay automatically restore full operation of the terminal 22.

After the message has been printed, the host computer 20 then determineswhether the agent has responded to the message, as indicated at block52. If the agent does not respond to the message within a predeterminedamount of time, such as one day after printing the message, the hostcomputer 20 may automatically inhibit operation of terminal 22, orcompletely disable terminal 22, as represented by block 54. At block 56,the agent may then be required to call the financial services firm 12 toreactivate the terminal 22, or otherwise restore operation of terminal22 through host computer 20. For example, the host computer 20 may causethe terminal 22 to display a message directing the agent to call thefinancial services firm.

Alternatively or supplementally, the host computer 20 may automaticallylist the shipment or any items of the shipment, such as negotiableinstrument forms, in a “watch list.” If any of such negotiableinstrument forms are later prepared as negotiable instruments andpresented for settlement through the host computer 20, the host computer20 may automatically flag the shipment or any portion of the shipmentfor investigation.

Next, the financial services firm 12 investigates the missing shipmentas indicated at block 58. After determining the whereabouts of theshipment, the financial services firm 12 may then update the inventoryreconciled and archived database at block 44, and reactivate theterminal 22, if appropriate to do so.

Alternatively, if the agent does respond to the message and provides anEARL using the terminal 22, the process will continue as previouslydescribed, as represented by blocks 52, 60 and 38. The shipment willalso be marked as received by the host computer 20, and will be storedin the inventory reconciled and archived database, as represented byblock 44.

The agent may also use terminal 22 to acknowledge that the shipment hasnot been received. This would typically be accomplished through a seriesof key strokes using keypad 23. However, if the agent has printed themessage but believes that the shipment was not received, the agent maythen be required to call the financial services firm 12, as representedby block 62. Furthermore, the host computer 20 may automatically flagthe shipment or a portion of the shipment as missing if the agent doesnot respond to the message. The financial services firm 12 then performsan investigation to determine the whereabouts of the shipment, asrepresented by block 58. Once the investigation is concluded,information regarding the shipment is stored in the inventory reconciledand archived database, as represented by block 44.

If the shipment or any portion of the shipment has not been acknowledgedas received, but the terminal 22 or other device at the agent location16 transmits a sale on an item included in the shipment or portion ofthe shipment, then the host computer 20 may automatically mark theshipment or portion of the shipment as received in the inventoryreconciled and archived database.

Because the status of inventory shipments can be tracked andacknowledged electronically, the method and system of the invention aremore efficient and accurate than prior methods and systems. Furthermore,because the host computer 20 and/or terminal 22 may automaticallyinhibit operation of the terminal 22 if proper steps are not followed,the financial services firm 12 can encourage the agent location 16 toacknowledge receipt of inventory shipments.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe allpossible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in thespecification are words of description rather than limitation, and it isunderstood that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

1-24. (canceled)
 25. A method for tracking status of an inventoryshipment sent to a recipient, the method comprising: transmitting, by ahost computer, a message to a transaction terminal of the recipientrequesting acknowledgment of receipt of inventory if an electronicacknowledgment is not transmitted by the transaction terminal of therecipient within a first predetermined amount of time, and inhibitingoperation of the transaction terminal if the transaction terminal doesnot print the message or the recipient does not respond to the messagewithin a second, predetermined amount of time.
 26. The method of claim25 further comprising restoring operation of the terminal after therecipient causes the message to be printed by the terminal.
 27. Themethod of claim 25 further comprising restoring operation of theterminal after the recipient responds to the message.
 28. The method ofclaim 25 further comprising transmitting a notice to the terminalindicating that the shipment has been sent.
 29. A method for trackingstatus of an inventory shipment sent to a recipient, the methodcomprising: transmitting a message by a host computer to a terminalrequesting acknowledgment of receipt of inventory if the recipient doesnot transmit an electronic acknowledgment within a first predeterminedamount of time; inhibiting operation of the terminal through the hostcomputer if the terminal does not print the message within a second,predetermined amount of time; automatically restoring operation of theterminal after the terminal prints the message if operation of theterminal has previously been inhibited for failure to print the message;and automatically disabling the terminal through the host computer ifthe recipient does not respond to the message within a third,predetermined amount of time.
 30. The method of claim 25 wherein theterminal is disposed at a first location, and the host computer isdisposed at a second location different than the first location, andwherein the host computer is configured to automatically transmit themessage to the terminal requesting acknowledgment of receipt ofinventory.
 31. The method of claim 30 wherein the terminal is configuredto print negotiable instruments.
 32. The method of claim 30 wherein theterminal is configured to process sale transactions.
 33. The method ofclaim 30 wherein the inventory shipment includes negotiable instrumentforms, and wherein the method further comprises initiating the inventoryshipment using the host computer.
 34. The method of claim 30 wherein theterminal includes a tracking system that tracks message print status,and the tracking system is configured to inhibit operation of theterminal if the terminal does not print the message within a second,predetermined amount of time.
 35. The method of claim 29 wherein theterminal is disposed at a first location, and the host computer isdisposed at a second location different than the first location.
 36. Themethod of claim 35 wherein the terminal is configured to printnegotiable instruments.
 37. The method of claim 35 wherein the terminalis configured to process sale transactions.
 38. A system for trackingstatus of an inventory shipment sent to a recipient, the systemcomprising: a host computer configured to automatically transmit amessage to the recipient requesting acknowledgement of receipt ofinventory if the electronic acknowledgement is not received within afirst predetermined amount of time; a terminal in communication with thehost computer, the terminal being configured to transmit the electronicacknowledgement to the host computer; wherein the terminal is configuredto receive the message from the host computer, and then inhibitoperation of the terminal if the terminal does not print the message orsend a response to the message within a second, predetermined amount oftime.
 39. The system of claim 38 the host computer is configured torestore operation of the terminal after the message is printed by theterminal or a response is sent to the message.
 40. The method of claim25, wherein the host computer tracks negotiable instruments shipped ininventories that are not received by the recipient, and automaticallyflags or marks one or more of the negotiable instruments if the one ormore negotiable instruments are presented for settlement.
 41. The methodof claim 29, wherein the host computer tracks negotiable instrumentsshipped in inventories that are not received by the recipient, andautomatically flags or marks one or more of the negotiable instrumentsif the one or more negotiable instruments are presented for settlement.